Composite adjustable rail-chair.



lA. s. HERMANN. ,l

y -,.`COMPOSITE ADJUSTABLE RAIL CHAIR. AP'PLR'C'ATlon `man ma. 2a. m5. nznzwsn nscjm. 19u.

1,279,722. A, Pawndsept 24,1918;

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Imm "l '20 j gr A. G. LIEBMANN. COMPOSITE ADJUSTABLE RAIL CHAIP.. APPLICATION FILED M123. 1915. RENEWED DEC. 21.1917.

1,279,722. v l Pmtedsept. 24,1918.

/., ssncETs-sncerz.

l UNITED sTATEs. PATENT oEEicE.

.mener o. msnm, or cnrcaeo, rumors.

CQMPOSITE ADJUSTABLE RAIL-CHAIR.

Bpeclcation ot Letters latent.

Patent-.ea sept. 24, 191s.

.Application med Iaiiiiliy 23, 19115, Serial No. 4,0%.` Renewed December 21, 1917. Serial` No. 208,854.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, AUGUST G. LIEBMANN,

, a citizen ofthe United States, .residin at his invention relates to pliances and more particularly to rail chai-rs. The object of the invelitlolgz orally stated, is to provide means ing rails under all conditions of for use with rany type of 'tis that considered most economical .from an eligiering point of view. i, j

At present, inferior grades of wood ties,

previously' subjected to treatment, are. ,the

most economie form of tiesI and, as it is in'iperativethat such tiesbeltreated to resist decay, the present invention aims to; pr'o vide a. composite adjustable chair having an eicient' fastening to obviate mechanical wear upon such treated oruntreated ties.

The essential factors in a composite adjustable' rail chair are as follows:

First, the elimination of mechanical wear.

Second, eiciency in maintenance.

Third, the factor of resultant economy.

Fourth, the factor of safety.

Recognizing the need of a rail chair embodying, in a unitary structure, these essential factors, the invention comprehends the elimination of mechanical wear by providing means for track gage variations on curves and tangente and rail surface variations in shimining without disturbance of ythe primaryV fastenings; for' yan -increased area of plate support on the tie to prevent cutting and Vcrushing of said tie; for supporting the bed plate per ae to prevent bucling and curling` of the ends of the plate;

for ermanently supporting the bed plate on t e tie to revent abrasion; and for eliminating respiking and 4consequent splittii'i'lg of the tie..V

heinvention further comprehends an increased eiciency in maintenance by providfing means for expediting rail renewals of -jo1ned"rails;. for preventing the ties from ffskewingrifor adapting the chair. to all conditions of track; for permitting the use of the chair ongnew 4or old ties, and for-pre- -venting lostinotion and change of adjust-4 ment.

'the appended claims.

Further to increase the-factor of economy i further to insure 'the factor of safety by compensating for the recoil of the rails nder stress; b supporting the rails against` lateral, vertica and tipping thrusts; by the prevention of broken rails in a permanent` rail `seat su port; by holding the rails secure in shiiiime positions; and by increasing the holding power of the plate fastenings t0 prevent 'rail displacements.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being Vunderstood'that .various changes in form,

tion may be resorted to within the scope of In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable compositerail chair, embodyin the present invention;

- ig. 2 is an end elevation, one of the Iclampingmembers and its associated parts being shown in section;

'Figl 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamping members and screw caps, constituting the secondary fastening device detached; F ig'. 4 is a transverse sectional view, showing a shim in position beneath the rail to adipst the rail for surface; screw cap on one side of the rail being removed to show the construction of the abutment;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation, showin theA device used for joined rails and the c amlping members in contact with the angle bars of the rail;

Fi 7. is a detail transverse sectional view, showing a modified form of abutment;

Fig. 8 is a vsimilar view, showing the adaptation of the chairto old ties;

Fig. 9 is an endview, showing the device ig. 5 is a topplan view of Fig. 1, the.

Vproportions and minor details of 'construcl ion in connection with a brace for. preventing tiplping thrust on curves;

ig. 10 is a bottom plan view ofthe screwcap and top plan view of the outer portion of the brace, showing the interlocking cortion;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the spacing device shown in Fig. 13, the guard and stock rails being shown 1n section;

Fig. 15 1s an end view, showing the fastening used in connection with switch points, the rail and switch point being showngm section.

vCorresponding land like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views o the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings,'A represents a rail having a standard cross section, and B a tie supporting the ra. l. Mounted upon the cross tie B, is a bed plate 5 referably a rolled shape, although. the p ate may be cast or otherwise formed, if desired. The bed plate 5 is substantially rectangular in shape, as shown, and preferably extends the entire width of the u per surface of the tie, the opposite longitu mal ed es of the plate being bent downwardly to orm depending fianges 6 which not only serve to reinforce the plate, but by contact with the adjacent sides edges of the tie assist in preventing displacement of the plate on the tie. The extended area of the bed plate support serves to prevent uttin and crushin of inferior wood ties, while the depen ing flanges 6, in conjunction with the clamping members, hereinafter referred to, prevent Athe bed plate from buckling and curling at its ends and also prevent splitting of the cross tie. y Y.

Projecting upwardly from the bed plate `5 at'the o osite ends thereof, and preferably forme integral therewith, are abutments 7, these abutments being hollow and having their exterior walls preferably of octagonal shape to present a plurality of flat faces 8. Openings 9 are formed in the bed plate, one in alinement with the socket of each abutment for the reception of screw spikes 10, said spikes constitutingv the rimary fasteningdevices for securing the ed plate to 'the-:cross 'tie and having their u per portions provided with machine threa s 11 and their lower portions formed with screw threads 12 for engagement with the tie. Shoulders 13 are formed on the screw spikes at the junction of the threads, the lower face of each shoulder being convex and adapted to rest on a correspondingly concaved seat 14 formed in the uppersurface of the bed late. spike is pre erably forme with an angular head 1-5 so as to permit the screw spikes to be conveniently grasped by a wrench or other suitable tool.

The u per end of each Mounted on the abutments 7, are frustoagainst rotation on the abutments after said i clamping members have been actuated to adjust the rail vertically or laterally with respect to thebed plate. The lower face of each rail clamping member is provided with an eccentric portion 18 adapted to bear against the adjacent longitudinal edge of the base flange of the rail A for shifting the rail laterally with respect to the bed plate when the clampin members are ad- )usted with respect to t e abutments, the eccentric portion of each clamping member defining a circumferential clamping lip 19 for contact with the upper face of the base fiange of said rail.

It will here be noted that the frusto-A conical rail clamping members are disposed concentric with the abutments, while the portions 18 are disposed leccentric to said abutments. lVith such a construction, it will be readily seen that b clamping members around t ie abutments, the raily may be adjusted laterally withl respect to its seat for gage. It will, of course, be understood that in order to adjust the clamping members around the abutments, said clamping members must first be disengaged from the abutments, that is to say, they must be elevated above the upper ends of the abutments and then turned until the desired fiat faces of the abutments and clamping members register after which the clamping members are again positioned on the abutments and secured in adjusted posi tion by means of the cap screws.

Threaded on the screw spikes or primary fastening devices, are secondary fastening devices, preferably in the form of screw caps 20, each screw ca n being provided with an interiorly threade depending cylindrical portion 21 for engagement with the machine threads on the adjacent spike and having a polygonal shaped head and a circumferential Harige 22 adapted to bear against the upper flat face of the adjacent rail clamplng member so that when the screw caps are adjusted home, the flanges 22 will bear against the members 16 and clamfp the ase a latter in engagement' with the b nge of the rail.

moving the It will here be noted that the ripper face of each clampin member 16 exten s a slight distance above t e upper surface of the adlso 'i lals i so

jacent abutment so as to cause the llangeQQ to bear directl on the rail clamping member and througli the medium of said member transmit a clampin action to the base flange 5 of the rail. It wi l also be noted that the y flange 22,'by contact with the upper face of the clamping member, compensates for recoil ofthe rail under stress. Should the screw cap 20, for any reason, become loose, the. rail clamping member-will have a slight vertical movement on the adacent abutment and thus revent fracture o the base flange of the rad. l n

. As the clampin members are substan- 16 tially frusto-conica in shape, the outer faces of said clamping members lwill form, in

effect, skidways andthus expedite rail renewals with joined rails,- it being merely necessary to remove one of the clamping members 16 and then move the line of joine rails laterally from engagement with the li ofthe other clamping `member when lsai joined rails may be readily removed, the inclined faces of the clampin membersform- :will further be noted that the screw caps 20 not only serve to clamp the members 16 in engagement with the base flange of a rail, but also serve to house and protect the screw spikes or 'rimary fastenings and resist the action of t ewheels of derailed cars so as to prevent injury to the primary fasteningdevices. The rail clamplng members are pref erably disposed in staggered relation on the bed' late and are so constructed as to allow for ongitudinal expansion and contraction of the rails. The primary fastening devices in conjunction with the flanges 6 o the bed plate, serveto prevent ballast from working under the bed plate and destro ing-'the be plate support. The rimary astening devices also revent bucliling or curling of the ends of sa1d bed plate.'

In orderto adjust the rail laterally on'the remove the screw caps 20 andpositionone of the rail clamping members on the adjacent abutment with the large portion of the eccentric bearin against the base flange of theI railon one si e thereof, and with the short ortion of the eccentric of the other clamplng member bearingy against nthe base flange of the rail on the other side of said rail, after which the screw caps are threaded on the screw s ikes and adjusted home, which clamps t e members 16 in engagement with the base flange of the rail and eifectually prevents accidental displacement of said rail. It will be understood that by moving the rail clamping members 16 to di'erent positions of adjustment, around the .abutments, the rail may be shifted laterally in j either direction for gage, as re uired. In

` order to adjust the rail vertical y for sur- 05 face, the screw caps are rotated to elevate 1in th1s application is of minimum weight ing, in effect, skidways, as efore stated. It' 4 interchangeablel and may be moved'in either direction to different positions around the n l bed plate for "gage, it is 'merely necessary to 1n Figs. 8 and 11 ofthe drawings, there is the same and a shim 23 placed beneath-the A rail, after which the screw caps are. tight` ened, asbest shown in Figai ofthe drawsVA ings. I f desired, the shim 23 may extend beneath theadjacent rail clamping members 'I0 so that when the screw caps are tightened, f said rail clamping members will prevent ac-4 cidental displacement of the shim. Attention is here called tothe fact that by reason of the large radiusof the eccentric portions 18 of the rail clamping membersan extended bearin surface is presented to the i n base flange oft e rail,4 thus preventing the ties from skewin ,and further inasmuch vas the members 16 ear against thefiiange of, the raily at "diagonally opposite points, said members will assist in supporting the rail against vertical, lateraland ti ping thrust. The particular form of fastening disclosed B5 and of few partsand is so constructed as to prevent rattling, due to wear of the parts or, lost motion with consequent change of adjustment. The rail clamping membersare 1 abutments to eilect the adjustment of the rail for gage. 4Wheny the chair is `madeof a casting, a copper content will preferably be added to the material so as to cause the fas- `Sli tening to resist rust and thus prolong `the life thereof in saline soils and withstand the drippings from,.refrigerator.cars.

In Fig. 6 of thV drawings, the rail chair is a shown in4 connection with joined rails, the construction and operation of the device being otherwise the same as that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with the exception that the lips19 of the rail clampin members engage angle bars 24, instead of aring directly on the base flange of the rail and in that the eccentrics 18 are of greater depth to permit the lips 19 to bear lagainst. saidl an le bars. j i

further modification is illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, in which the abutments', instead of being rolled or cast with'y the body of the bed plate, are formed sepal rately and seated in suitable openings 25 formed in said bed plate. In` this form of the device, the abutments 7 are providedy with laterally extending circumferentialv 1 Ilanges 26 which fit in countersunkportions y f '27 in the upper surface ofthe bed plate so es to prevent accidental displacement of the abutments and at the same time present a y j smooth surface fory the rail yclampmgfmem` ber. It will ofcourse be understood thatthe C abutments 7 may be secured `with-in the openings 25 in any` suitable manner. l

The device shownin. Fig. l is particularly adapted for attachment to new ties. yThe chair, however, may be applied `with equally results to old or spike killed ties, and

ico f los l y `illustrated avstructure for this purpose.

When the chair is used on old or spike killed ties, the bed plate is preferably formed with a plurality of square openings 28 and 29, the openings 29 being adapted to receive screw bolts 30, the heads of which extend through the openings 29 and are preferably j countersunk in the upper surface of the tie.

Ordinary spikes are preferablyA driven in the openings 28 for the purpose of holding the chair securely in position on the tie. As the openings 28 and 29 will bes aced from the spike killed portion of an,ol)d tie, it is obvious that a. fresh or unmutilated area of the tie will be presented for the driving of vthevv ordinary spikes, when using thistype of the invention, as ybest' shown inf11 of.

theidrawings.

Where the fastening is used on curves, a brace 31 is preferably employed, the inner endrof said brace being provided with a head v32 for contact with the lower face of the head of the rail and the base flange thereof, respectively, and the outer end of the brace being -interposed between the upper face of the rail clamping member and the lower face of the flange of the screw cap or secondary fastening. In order to cause the brace to bearj-,against the rail and prevent displacementi of the brace, when the rail is adjusted laterally for gage, the lower face of the flange-of the screw cap 4is preferably formed with one orv more ribs or corrugations 33 adapted to enter corresponding grooves 34 formed in the upper face of the brace, there being a slot 35 formed in the brace adapted to receive the cylindrical portion of the screw cap and permit adjustment of the brace to accommodate the rail. This brace 31, as

will be understood, prevents tipping thrust.

of the rail on curves.

In Fig. 12 of the drawings, the improved fastening is shown in connection with a conventional form of frog, .while in Figs. 13 'and 14, the fastening is-shown for clampingV a stock and guard rail, respectively. The

fastening device may be employed with ually od results for use; in connection wlth switch points and in Fig. 15 of the drawings, the fastening is shown supported on a base plate and engaging the stock rail adjacent a switch point.

While the abutments and sockets of the rail clampingmembers are shown as being of octagonal formation,y it will of course be understood that they may be square, hexagonal or ofany other angular shape or that other means may be employed for preventing rotation of the clamplng members on the abutments after adjustment for gage, without departing from the spirit of the inventlon.

From' the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved chair provides for gage variations on curves and tangents; for

the restoration of gage without respiking; and for rail surface variations, low joints,-

kinks, shimming and the like, without vrespiking. The chair and fastener forming a part thereof is so constructed 'that it will effectually eliminate mechanical wear to cross ties, and consequently prolong the life of treated or untreated ties by providing for lateral v and vertical adjusting of the rail for curves o r tangents without the necessity of disturb# ing the primary fastening devices or resplk-y 'ing or shifting the bed plate ofthe chair on the tie to effect such adjustment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed asv new is:

1. A rail chair including a bed plate and v xed upstanding abutments, and rail clamping members movable to different positions around the abutments for holdin a rail in lateral a-nd vertical adjustment with respect to the bed plate.

2; A rail chair including a bed plate andl abutments of angular formation, and rail clamping members bearing against and movable around the abutments for holding a rail in diierent positions of lateral and verf tical adjustment with respect to the bed plate.

3. A rail chair lincluding a bed plate and abutments of angular formation, and rail clamping members fitted over the abutments and having eccentric portions movableinto engagement with a rail for holding the rail in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to the bed plate.

4. A rail chair including a bedplate and abutments of angular formation, and rail clampin members concentrically mounted on the a utments and having eccentric portions movable into engagement with a `rail for holding the rail in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to the bed plate.

5. A rail chair including a bed plate and abutments of angular formation, rail clamping members fitting the abutments and movable to different positions around said abutments for holding a rail in lateral and verti-` cal adjustment with respect to the bed plate,

and means for forcing the clamping mem-L bers into engagement with the rail.

6. A rail chair including a bed plate and an 'abutment having an angular face, and a rail clamping member concentrically mounted on the abutment and having an angular portion for engagement with the angular face of the abutment and an eccentric portion movable into engagement with a rail for holding the rail in adjusted position.

7. A rail Vchair including a bed plate and an abutment havin an angular face, and arail clamping mem r movable to different positions around the abutment and having a correspondingly angularl portion for engagement therewith.

` 'againstaround different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment with res abutments,

i -thebe plate. `or

l y at.'

thebed platewithout .abutments,

v able into engagement with f `upstanding abutment of ferent positions o 'justment, and rimary fastening .tendin throug the *js .fthe-be yplate.- L.` 12o y abutments,` primary fastening primary vertical adjustment.

l outer face,

` BDA rail chair including a bed plate and y abutments, 'rail clamping members bearing and movable to different positions the abutments for holding a rai1 l ect to the ed plate, prihoused within the mary `fasteni evices l tliebed plate,-and

abutments an piercing secondary fastening devices primary fastening devices.v .l l*

9. A-rail chair including a bed plate and .rail clamping members concentrically mounted on the abutments and' havment witha rail for holding `'ingV eccen ricA portions movable into enga said railin if? devices .exj abutments and piercing` n 10. A railcliair ncludinga bedv plateand.

tendin `throu h the abutments and iercing "u securingthebedp atetoa" cross tie, and rail clamping` members dis-'- posed in contact with and movable to diferent'positions around-the abutments for -v with the rail I respect to disturbing the primary shifting laterally fastening devices. i l y o 11. Arail chair including a bed plate and abutments, rail clamping members movable to different positions around the abutmentsg` fastening devices extending through the abutments and bed plate for engagementy with a cross tie, and secondaryy fastening `devices engaging theorimarv fastening devices and formin a housing for the latter.

12. A rai chair includinga bed plate and abutments, rail `clamping members against and movable to diierent positions around the abutments for shifting a rail laterally with respect tothe bed plat/e,` means exerting a downward pressure on the clamping members for holding the rail on the bed plate or on a shim in iierentl positions of ad'ustment. f y A 13. A rai chair including a bed plate andto ufit over the abutments and each provided with an eccentric portion mova rail for 'holdin the rail in diiierent positions of lateral an 14. A rail chair including a bed plate having `upstanding abutments disposed in staggered relation and each having an angular and rail clamping members ha inglsockets provided with angular facesviitting around the abutments and engaging the angular faces of said abutments, each clamping member being provided with an eccentric portionfor engagement with a rail.

15. In a rail chair, a bed plate having an octagonal erossfsec different portion engaging the' ,abutmeiit, a substantially frusto-eonical rail able to f' lateral and verticaladf y on and movable to v tending throng 'fffor engagement with across tie,gand devices eir-y inent, a milk-clamping ,ent

` ing through interchangeable clamping members adapted against ingthe latter downwar tion,pand socket of corres ondin e tting over theabutment an provi ed with an eccentric portion movable into enga ment with a rail, said rail clamping mein r being inevable to different positions around the abutment with a 4step by step motion to resent s of the eccentric to -t e rail'. chair, afbed plate and an shap 16.` In .a rail clampin member bearing'against and-moviiferent positions around the abut.` ment', and an eccentric portion formed on the railelampingmember.- i

abutment, a rail clam ing member moun di erentpositions around theabutment, a primary fastening device eil'. li the abutment and `plate y a. screw 'cap having a threaded portion for engagement with the primary fastening device and provided; wtliallate l yflange 'ada ted to f -bear against'the adjacent face of t e rall clamping member.

*18,111 a mii. chair, a bei piahavng a hollow ii standing abutment, there .opening ormed in the bed plate at 'said av ut member the abutment and movableto.dierz` positions around the same,` ag' screwsp' extendin through, the openingI inthe witlta sho plat'e,`and a screw cap cothe'- rail clam ing membe ,forming a hous against tact with the bed acting. with for the latter. i "19. `In a rail chair, a bed plate having-depending longitudinally vdisposed flanges forengagement with ya cross-tie and provid withupstanding ,hollow abutments arranged clamping members disposed in contact with the abutments l :and movable to div-ierent positions around f the same, primary fasteningv devices extendthe abutments, said rail` clamp ing members being each provided with air eccentric portion for engagement with a rail, and secondary fastening devices engaging the prima fasteningdevices and bearing the Arail clamping embers for forcy. bed plate ing ioii

20. In a rail chair,a" liavinga r hollow upstandingabutment of octagopai cross section, a substantially frusto-conical rail clamping member of greater height than the abutment fitting over and movable to. diierentpositions aroundfsaid abutment, a screw spike disposed and piercing the bedk with a cross tie, and a screw cap en threads on the bearing against the upper clamping member,

within the abutment plate for engagement mg head of the screw spi e and the rail face of a Arail clampingm mber having a 70 derfor wnizo g f amples l chair including a bed plate havondary fastening devices for the rail clamp ing stagered abut'nuents of angular formaing means, the primary fastening devices betion, van laterally'and vertically adjustable ing housed within the vabutments and the members'havingcorresponding angular porsecondaryfastening devlces serving to pro- 5 tions coperati'ng with the abutments for vtect the'pri'mary fastening devices. Y holding a railjinv diierent positionsof a 24.- universal composite railV chair inju'stment with respect to the bed plate; cluding a bed plate having staggered abuti 22. Arai] chair includingal bed 'late'havments of angular formation, and laterally v ing abutments, laterally andnvertlca-lly ad and vertically adjustable rail holding means 10 Ajustable' rail` clampin means coperating fitting over and coperating with the abut- 30 With the abutments or holding a rail inV ments and adapted to hold a rail indifferent ldifferent; positions of adjustment with re-v positions ofadjustment on ties, at or between. spect to the bed platez'and primary fastening@ joints or with fro switches vor guard rails.

121. A mi f ;v means disposed withln the abutments. f Iny testimony whereof .I aflix my vslgnature ..1 5' J 23. -A rail chair including a bed'platehavin presence of two Witnesses. i n viIlgSpiedupsta'ndlnghOHOVV abutmllts, lat-i y. [L

erally and .vertically adjustable rail clampf in means enacting with the abutments forl Witnesses l ho ding arail 4in different positions with 're.V JOSEPH C. ZIRKLE, f 2'0 spect' tothebed plate, and primary and sec-" L'ILLIAN E. HOFFMAN. 

